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FROM ENGLISH CHRONICLERS 125<br />

This done, by God's authority he exhorted and commanded<br />

anyone who thought at all differently of the affair, and had<br />

conceived any reason w<strong>here</strong>by it could be shown that <strong>this</strong><br />

union might not take place accord<strong>in</strong>g to the law of Christ,<br />

not to hesitate but to declare it openly, preserv<strong>in</strong>g peace with<br />

all men.<br />

To <strong>this</strong> all with one voice cried that the matter was justly<br />

concluded, and that no ground rema<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> it for anyone,<br />

unless perchance moved by malice, to be able with right to<br />

raise any accusation ; and they were lawfully united with<br />

the honour which befitted a k<strong>in</strong>g and queen.<br />

Behold, I have described the manner of the transaction,<br />

the truth of my conscience to witness ; even as I, who was<br />

present, saw and heard it, without bias toward either side :<br />

only giv<strong>in</strong>g publicity to the girl's words, without assert<strong>in</strong>g<br />

whether they be true or not. If anyone t<strong>here</strong>fore wish still<br />

to say that Anselm did anyth<strong>in</strong>g wrong <strong>in</strong> <strong>this</strong>, let him see<br />

for himself.<br />

But we who have known his <strong>in</strong>most m<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong> <strong>this</strong> as <strong>in</strong><br />

many th<strong>in</strong>gs bear him witness that, as he himself used to say,<br />

he could not at that<br />

w<strong>here</strong>by<br />

time have had knowledge or ability<br />

to do <strong>in</strong> <strong>this</strong> matter better or more wisely than he<br />

did. 1<br />

1 1 oo, Nov.<br />

ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE, MS. E,<br />

S.A. 1100. 2<br />

And presently t<strong>here</strong>after the k<strong>in</strong>g took to himself as wife<br />

Matilda, daughter of Malcolm, k<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>Scotland</strong>, and of the<br />

good queen Margaret, k<strong>in</strong>g Edward's k<strong>in</strong>swoman, of the<br />

true royal k<strong>in</strong> of England.<br />

And she was given to him with much honour on St. Mart<strong>in</strong>'s<br />

mass day, 3 at Westm<strong>in</strong>ster ; and the archbishop Anselm<br />

wedded her to him, and t<strong>here</strong>after consecrated her as queen. 4<br />

1 The Narr. Rest. Abb. Torn., u.s., 376, says that Anselm opposed the<br />

marriage.<br />

2<br />

Cf. Fl. of W., ii, 47-48 ; S. of D., H.R., ii, 232 ; Hoved., i, 157. R.<br />

de D., i, 233. W. of M., G.R., ii, 470-471. H. of H., 233. R. of H., <strong>in</strong><br />

Chr. of Ste., etc., iii, 141. R. de T., ibid., iv, 81. Fl. His., ii, 36, s.a. 1102.<br />

O.V., X, 13, <strong>in</strong> Migne, 188, 754.<br />

A passage <strong>in</strong> one MS. of M.P., Chr. Maj., ii, 121-122, describes her as an<br />

unwill<strong>in</strong>g bride. Cf. the absurd account <strong>in</strong> M.P., H.A., i, 188-189, s.a. 1101.<br />

3 llth November.<br />

4<br />

Accord<strong>in</strong>g to O.V., u.s., she was consecrated by Gerard, bishop of<br />

Hereford.

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